Free trade agreements and the US-China-Australia relationship in the Asia-Pacific region

Abstract

In the wake of the Asian century, the Asia-Pacific region has seen a proliferation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). The driving force behind the initial formation of these agreements since the 1990s, however, has moved away from focusing on economic incentives to more strategic geopolitical concerns. This article examines the employment of FTAs by the United States (US), China, and Australia to further their geopolitical interests in the Asia- Pacific region in the context of the strong trading relationship between China and Australia on the one hand, and the strong strategic relationship the US has had with Australia on the other. Australia's roadmap to the future as set out in its recently released White Paper provides valuable insights into this interlinked relationship.